Sufism in the Context of the Hadith Regarding the Schism Among Muslims: On the Question of the “Saved Group”

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the well-known hadith about the division of the Prophet Muhammad’s community into 73 groups in the context of Sufism’s (Tasawwuf) place in the religious landscape of Islam. The relevance of the study is driven by attempts in certain circles to classify Sufism as one of the “deviant” sects (Firaq) mentioned in the hadith. The aim of the work is to provide a theological and analytical substantiation of the thesis that Sufism is not a separate sect but an integral part of the Sunni tradition. To achieve this aim, the following tasks are addressed: the criterion by which a religious movement is considered a distinct sect (Firqah) in the context of this hadith is defined; the criteria for identifying the “Saved Sect” (Firqah Najiyah) according to classical Muslim literature are defined; the essence of Sufism as a science of spiritual perfection (Ihsan) and purification of the heart, rooted in the Quran and the Sunnah, is revealed. Drawing on the works of classical authors, it is argued that the key criterion for classifying a group as a distinct sect is a fundamental divergence in core matters of creed (‘Aqidah), not in ritual practice or spiritual methods. Orthodox Sufism historically developed within the framework of Sunni creed, without forming a separate dogmatic platform. The conclusion is made that classifying Sufism as one of the 72 errant groups is methodologically flawed, as it represents not an alternative creed but a spiritual and ethical dimension of Islam itself.

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